EFCC begins ‘criminal investigation’ into Nigeria Air deal by ex-Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigation on the controversial Nigeria Air deal sealed by ex-Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika.
This was revealed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.
He said, “The EFCC is investigating that deal, there is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report”.
Keyamo also said no local airline would be designated as national airline, adding that “we will establish a proper national carrier”.
Last August, shortly after he was sworn in as minister, Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), faulted the deal by his predecessor Sirika and suspended the whole arrangement which was hurriedly unveiled by days to the end of the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, to enable proper audit of contracts.
The controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, had forced veteran aviator, Girma Wake, to resign as Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines.
The then interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt Dapo Olumide, had said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines, adding that the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling on the last day of the Buhari administration in May 2023.
Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation had both labelled the launch of the Nigeria Air as a fraud.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Air: FGN unveils national carrier in Abuja
In another development, Keyamo said that there is no going back on the relocation of the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
“We are going ahead. The directive has been given,” the minister said.
Recall that Senator Ali Ndume from Borno South as well as chieftains of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and other northern groups had kicked against the moves by FAAN and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), insinuating that it was an attempt to marginalise the north.
However, Keyamo said the movement of the headquarters of the airport authority has become necessary in line with current economic and operational realities.
He said the movement of the FAAN headquarters would save the government and the people of Nigeria half a billion naira wasted on air tickets by officials of the Authority who have to commute from Lagos to Abuja and back.
The minister said top FAAN officials and aviation unions approached him that the head office of the authority be moved to Lagos for operational efficiency.
On whether President Bola Tinubu was aware of the decision or not, he said, “I take the decision; it’s a decision under the purview of a minister”.
He said only the headquarters of one of the seven aviation agencies in the country is being moved from Abuja to Lagos.
Keyamo said when his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, moved the headquarters of all aviation agencies from Lagos to Abuja in 2020, no adequate provision was made for the principal officers like the directors and the departments under them.
